>Releases first instalment to 1 lakh PMAY (G) beneficiaries
New Delhi: The Prime Minister, NarendraModi Monday said that there is a Government in the country which thinks about the poor first while emphasising: “Modi has reached out to those who were never cared for.”
He made these remarks during his address after the release of the first instalment to 1 lakh beneficiaries of PradhanMantriAwasYojana – Gramin (PMAY – G) under PradhanMantriJanjatiAdivasiNyayaMahaAbhiyan (PM-JANMAN) via video conferencing. The Prime Minister also interacted with the beneficiaries of PM-JANMAN on the occasion.
Addressing on the occasion, the Prime Minister drew attention to the festive mood in the entire nation as he mentioned Uttarayan, MakarSankranti, Pongal and Bihu celebrations.
He said that today’s occasion makes the festive period even more impactful and the interactions with the beneficiaries have transcended him into a joyous mood.
“On the one hand, Diwali is being celebrated in Ayodhya, while 1 lakh people from the extremely backward tribal community are also celebrating Diwali”, the Prime Minister said as he mentioned the transfer of funds into their bank accounts for the construction of pucca homes and congratulated them on the occasion.
The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the beneficiaries will celebrate this year’s Diwali in their own homes. Noting the auspicious occasion of the consecration of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for getting the opportunity to become a part of such a historic occasion. PM Modi said that it is natural to remember Mata Shabri during the 11-day fasting ritual undertaken by him to honour the consecration of the Ram Temple.
“Story of Shri Ram is not possible without Mata Shabari”, the Prime Minister said underlining Mata Shabari’s huge role in the transformation of Prince Ram to MaryadaPurushottam Ram. “Dashrath’s son Ram could become Deenbandhu Ram only when he ate the berries of tribal Mata Shabari”, he said.
Quoting RamcharitManas, the Prime Minister explained that the relationship of devotion has been said to be the greatest with Lord Shri Ram. “Be it the story of Rajaram in Treta or the current situation, welfare is not possible without the poor, deprived and the tribals”, ShriModi said as he mentioned constructing 4 crore permanent houses for the poor in the last 10 years. “Modi has reached out to those who were never cared for”, he added.
The Prime Minister said that the goal of PM-JANMAN MahaAbhiyan is to benefit every member of the tribal community through government schemes. He informed that within two months, PM-JANMAN mega campaign has achieved the results that others could only dream of. Recalling the challenges during the inauguration of PM-JANMAN on the birth anniversary of BhagwanBirsaMunda, the Prime Minister mentioned the difficulties in taking the benefits to far-flung, remote and border areas of the country which are home to tribal communities.
He emphasized that it was the present government that took on the huge task and highlighted the challenges of contaminated water, no access to electricity, gas connections, and lack of roads and connectivity to such areas. Explaining why the scheme was called JANMAN, the Prime Minister said, “‘Jan’ means the people and ‘Mann’ means their ‘Mann Ki Baat’ or their inner voice.” He reiterated that all the wishes of the tribal communities will now be fulfilled as the government plans to spend more than Rs 23,000 crores on PM-JANMAN mega campaign.
The Prime Minister highlighted that before 2014, MSP was fixed only for about 10 forest produce, whereas the present government has brought about 90 forest produce under the ambit of MSP. “To get higher prices for forest produce, we created Van DhanYojana”, ShriModi said highlighting a large number of women among lakhs of beneficiaries. “In the last 10 years, 23 lakh pattas have been issued to tribal families. We are also promoting the Haat Bazaar of the tribal community. Many campaigns are being run so that our tribal brothers can sell the same goods in other markets of the country which they sell in the market”, he said.
Concluding the address, the Prime Minister said, “My tribal brothers and sisters may live in remote areas but have amazing foresight. Today the tribal society is seeing and understanding how our government is working for the tribal culture and their respect.” He mentioned the declaration by the government to celebrate the birth anniversary of BhagwanBirsaMunda as JanjatiyaGauravDiwas and the development of 10 big museums of tribal freedom fighters across the country. PM Modi assured the tribal community of continuously working for their respect and comfort.
MankunwariBai from Jashpur district in Chhattisgarh, who is involved in agricultural work with her husband informed the Prime Minister that she is acquiring training to make Dona Pattal by engaging with self-help groups while also creating awareness about PM-JANMAN related schemes as JanmanSangi by conducting door-to-door campaigns. She is part of the self-help group called Deep Samuh which comprises 12 members. Ms Mankunwari also informed the Prime Minister about her plans to sell the produce created in self-help groups at Van DhanKendras. She further spoke about the benefits received and mentioned pucca house, water, gas and electricity connection and Ayushman Card where her husband received free treatment for ear ailment and her daughter received treatment worth Rs 30,000. She also mentioned receiving benefits related to Forest Rights Act (FRA), Kisan Credit Card and PM KisanSammanNidhi. Ms Mankunwari said that the tapped water connection is protecting her from consuming contaminated water and thereby saving her and her family from water-borne diseases, the gas connection is helping her save time and eliminating the smoke emitted from firewood. She thanked the Prime Minister and said “The work which wasn’t taken up in the last 75 years has now been completed in 25 days.” ShriModi also enquired about interest in sports and asked for a show of hands by young women and girls among the crowd. He emphasized indulging in sports and said that most of the sports awards in recent times are being bagged by athletes from the tribal community. The Prime Minister expressed delight that Ms Mankunwari is receiving benefits under several schemes and they are making her life easier. “You have not only availed the benefits but also created awareness among the community”, the Prime Minister said as he underlined that the impact of government schemes increases manifold when it sees the participation of the masses. He concluded his interaction by reiterating the government’s effort to include every single beneficiary and not leave anyone behind.
LalitaAadivasi of SahariyaJanjati from Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh a mother of 3 is a beneficiary of Ayushman Card, ration card, PM KisanNidhi. Her daughter is in class 6 and gets scholarship, uniform and books along with the benefit of Ladli Lakshmi scheme. Her son, a class 2 student, also gets a scholarship and other facilities. Her youngest son goes to an Anganwadi School. She is associated with SheetlaMaiyaSwayamSahayataSamooh, a self-help group. She is supported by a custom hiring center. The Prime Minister congratulated her on the first installment of pucca house. SmtLalita thanked the Prime Minister for thinking so sensitively about the tribal issues and informed him about the transformation that JANMAN Abhiyan has ushered in as now tribal population is able to avail all the benefits of available schemes. She told the Prime Minister that she was made aware of the JANMAN Abhiyan and other schemes in the meetings of her self-help group and said that she started getting benefits like the allocation of a house, and her father-in-law received benefits of Kisan Credit Card. 100 additional Ayushman Cards were made during the JANMAN Abhiyan. Her village was fully covered by the Ujjwala Scheme and new households were also covered under the campaign. The Prime Minister conveyed his appreciation for the leadership qualities of the tribal and rural women. Local Panchayat member VidyaAadivasi explained to the PM the Map and development planning of the village to the Prime Minister with a model of the village. The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction at the impact of PM JANMAN on the ground and reiterated the government’s determination to cover each and every deserving beneficiary.
